Photo of Prohibition Dry Squad members, 1919

Created Date

1919

Description

Washington voters passed a 1916 referendum, prohibiting the production of alcoholic beverages in the state. Three years later, the Volstead Act and the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution barred liquor nationally. Federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement authorities were responsible for enforcing Prohibition, rooting out bootleggers, rumrunners and moonshiners.